Insect retainer and killer



June 3, 1958 H. LAPETINA INSECTRETAINER AND KILLER Filed Nov. 18, 1955 United States Patent 2,836,924 7 INSECT RETAINER AND KILLER Herbert Lapetina, Norfolk, Va., assignor of twenty percent each to Edward L. Copeland and Jesse A. Simpkins, Norfolk, Va.

Application November 18, 1955, Serial No. 547,752

1 Claim. (Cl. 43-131) This invention relates to means for eliminating flies and other insects, and in particular a body formed of cotton and preferably designed to represent a bug, beetle, or the like and means for attaching the body to a surface, such as a screen door or screen of a window whereby with the material of the body impregnated with a toxic solution, such as an insecticide flies, mosquitoes, and other insects coming in contact therewith are killed.

The purpose of this invention is to'provide means for destroying flies, insects and the like in which the device may readily be sold over a counter and attached to a wall, screen or screen door by housewives.

Various types of insect repellants, repelling devices and traps have been provided for repelling and destroying flies, mosquitoes, and other insects, however, with conventional insect repellants the insects remain alive and return when the repellant becomes ineifective. With this thought in mind this invntion contemplates means particularly adapted to be mounted on a screen door or on a screen of a window whereby as an insect comes in contact therewith it is killed.

The object of this invention is, therefore, to provide an insect destroying device that is particularly adapted to be positioned on a screen door or screen of a window or the like.

Another object of the invention is to provide an insect destroying device that is adapted to be mounted on a screen or screen door in which the device resembles an insect or the like.

Another important object of the invention is to provide an insect destroying device in which the device is impregnated with a toxic fluid in which the fluid may readily be replaced.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device for killing flies, mosquitoes, and other insects that is adapted to be attached to a screen door or screen of a window or the like in which the device is of a simple and economical construction.

With these and other objects and advantages in view the invention embodies a body having projections resembling a head and arms or legs, a pad of cotton, such as raw cotton secured by a suitable adhesive to the body and a staple positioned with points extended from the body and having a strip of adhesive tape positioned over the head thereof for retaining the staple in position in the body.

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description taken in connection with the drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is an elevational view showing the insect retainer and killer positioned on a screen door with parts of the device broken away to show the mounting means and also with parts of the screen door broken away.

Figure 2 is a View looking toward the inside of the screen door on which the device is positioned showing the points or ends of a staple extended from the body of the device secured over wires of the screen of the door.

Figure 3 is an exploded view showing a sectional plan through the device with the points of a staple for securing the device to a screen extended and showing the device separated from the screen.

Figure 4 is a sectional plan taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 1 showing the device mounted on a screen panel such as the wire mesh of a screen door or window screen, the points of the staple for securing the device to the screen being shown extended in dotted lines.

Figure 5 is an elevationl view illustrating a modification wherein the device is secured to the glass panel of a window, door, or the like by mounting the legs and arms of the device on the glass with adhesive tape.

Figure 6 is a cross section taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 5 showing adhesive 'tape positioned over one of the arms of the device.

Figure 7 is an elevational view illustrating another modification wherein the device is attached to a wall with a thumb tack or the like.

Figure 8 is a cross section taken on line 8--8 of Fig. 7 showing a thumb tack extended through the body or head portion of the device and into the material of a wall or the like.

Referring now to the drawing wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts the improved insect retainer and killer of this invention includes a body 10 having arms 11 and legs 12, a cotton pad 13 secured to the body with a suitable adhesive, a staple 14, points 15 and 16 or which extend through the body 10 and a strip 17, of adhesive tape or the like adapted to be positioned over the closed end of the staple for retaining the staple in position, as illustrated in Fig. 3.

The body 10 is made of plastic, metal, or other suitable material, preferably impervious to moisture and the cotton pad 13 is secured to the body with a waterproof adhesive making it possible for the device to hang on the nutside of a screen door or screen of a window or the like where it is exposed to the elements.

The upper end of the body 10 is provided with a projection resembling a head, as indicated by the numeral 18 and it will be understood that any suitable number of arms and legs may be provided to form a bug or insect that is attractive to flies, mosquitoes, and other insects. It will also be understood that the body of the device may be made to represent a different type of bug or insect and the arms, legs, or other body members may extend in other suitable directions instead of extending downwardly as shown.

With the insect destroying device provided as illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4 the points 15 and 16 are inserted through a wire mesh screen 19 and the body positioned against the surface of the screen and with the parts in these positions the ends of the points are bent over securing the device in position upon the screen, as illustrated in Fig. 4. The device may be located at any suitable point on a screen of a window or on a screen door and as many of the devices may be used as may be desired.

In the design illustrated in Fig. 5 a body 20 similar to the body 10 and a pad of cotton 21 are secured to a glass, metal, wood, or other panel 22 and the device is secured to the panel with strips of adhesive tape 23, which are positioned over parts of the arms or legs as indicated by the numeral 24.

In the design illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8 a body 25 having a pad 26 of cotton or the like is secured to the surface of a wall 27 with a fastener, such as a thumb tack having a head 28 and a point 29. The thumb tack is inserted through the head 30 of the body 25, although it will be understood that the thumb tack may be positioned at any other point in the body.

The device may be made to resemble an insect, as

shoWn,.or it may be in the form of a fish, a bird,"or'an animal or the like and with the cotton impregnated a suitable toxic fluid, such as DDT or the like it will remain effective for a period of six months or more.

It, will be understood that other modifications, within the scope of the appended claim, may be madein the-- design and arrangement ofthe parts without, departing from the spirit of the invention;

What is claimed is: t

In an insect destroyer, the combinationiwhich com-Q10 prises'a flat sheet of material imperviousto moisture representinga body of a beetle having asimulated head, arms, and legs formed contiguous with the. body Which is sub-.7, stantially oval in formatioma' staple having a head with spaced prongs extended from ends thereof positionedlwitht 15 the prongs extended through the body adjacent the head and centrally of the body and adapted to be bent over wire mesh, or the like'fon retaining the body, to the, Wire,

mesh, a strip of adhesive tape positioned over the head of the staple and a pad of cotton impregnated With a toxic material secured to the body with a Waterproof adhesive;

References Cited in the file of this patent V UNITED STATES PATENTS 465,793 Mackie' Decf22, 1891 673,919 Mu'zzy May'1'4, 1901' 1,342,933 Anderson Iune 8', 1920. 1,631,121 Eckl 'J une 7, 1927 2,690,030 Thompson Sept. 28, 1954 2,765,579 Gordon Oct. 9, 1956 

